Though they were seven hours away, their suffering felt like his own. He couldn’t bear the thought of watching his home swallowed by floodwaters, losing friends and family to a sudden disaster, or spending Thanksgiving alone,

NORTH CAROLINA (WTVD) -- Western North Carolina is home to one of the country's largest sources of Christmas trees in the country. It's why after Hurricane Helene, many are hoping to show their support for the local economy. This year, more people are choosing the tradition of a fresh tree instead of a store-bought tree.